Las Golondrinas at Sandia National Laboratories’ “Intern Day”

Education and Volunteer Manager Laura Gonzales is greeted by Isotopes mascot Orbit. Photo by Sharla Prather.

El Rancho de las Golondrinas, the Southwest’s Premier Living History Museum, recently joined with other organizations in Sandia National Laboratories’ “Intern Day” in Albuquerque.

The high impact event was held for over 700 Sandia interns from all over the U.S. to learn how uniquely wonderful the area is, and to create memorable experiences that increase participation, support and commerce.

“Las Golondrinas is receiving a greater number of invitations like this,” said Laura Gonzales, who manages education and volunteers for the museum. “So we’re looking at starting an Outreach Volunteer Team to accept more of the growing number of offsite invitations.”

Sandia has invited Las Golondrinas to return for a follow-up event in September.

With 13,000 employees across four states, Sandia is a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory that has major research and development responsibilities in nuclear deterrence, global security, defense, energy technology and economic competitiveness.

El Rancho de las Golondrinas, a popular tourist destination with more than 50,000 visitors annually, has 34 historic buildings and farm fields on 200 scenic acres. Located south of Santa Fe, the museum began in 1972 on the site of a stopping place for water and food by travelers on the centuries-old Camino Real from Mexico City to Santa Fe.

Gonzales and volunteer Sharla Prather represented Las Golondrinas at the Sandia event.